Marijuana grow houses found in North Port, police say

Police said they have uncovered a marijuana growing operation based out of two homes.

Police said Maykel Benitez-Abella, 35, and Lumey Echevarria-Hernandez, 32, were growing 125 plants in homes in the 5600 block of Tropicaire Boulevard and the 5900 block of Taneytown Street.

North Port police reported that the city's special investigations unit conducted a search warrant on the houses at 9 a.m. Thursday. Sarasota County SWAT team officers and a helicopter team assisted.

Inside the homes, police found 125 grown marijuana plants along with equipment used in marijuana-growing operations.

Benitez-Abella and Echevarria-Hernandez were charged with manufacturing a controlled substance with intent to sell, trafficking more than 15 pounds of cannabis, possession of drug paraphernalia and keeping a structure to sell a controlled substance.